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Surgical Procedures for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Surgery may be used to treat a small number of people with COPD. It can improve symptoms, make breathing easier, and sometimes prolong life. However, it cannot cure the disease. Surgical procedures include:

Bullectomy

Bullectomy improves breathing for a small number of people with COPD. This is a rarely done elective procedure. It involves the surgical removal of a large air space, called a bulla, which is filled with oxygen-depleted air. When the bulla is removed, healthy functioning air sacs around it have room to expand. This makes muscles used for breathing work better. Usually only one large bulla is removed.

Surgeons do bullectomy in two different ways. An incision is made in the side of the chest wall between the ribs. This is called a
thoracotomy
. Then, a tube mounted with a small video camera, called a video thoracoscope, is inserted. Surgical instruments are also attached to the thoracoscope. The surgeon is able to view the lung on a video screen while removing the bulla. The bulla can also be removed through this incision.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS)

This procedure is done to relieve symptoms in people with advanced COPD. Surgeons remove a portion of the most diseased lung tissue. This allows the diaphragm to return to a more normal position. That allows it to work more effectively. This may improve lung elasticity.
In some people, surgery can improve symptoms.

Surgeons do LVRS with a thoracotomy. The surgeon removes the diseased lung tissue through a large incision. In another method, surgeons insert a video thoracoscope through a small incision. They remove diseased tissue while viewing the lungs on a video screen (VATS). In both procedures, surgeons remove about 20%-30% of the most damaged lung tissue.

Lung Transplant

A
lung transplant
is a surgical procedure to remove severely diseased lungs and replace them with healthy lungs from a human donor. One or both lungs may be transplanted. The procedure may be done in people with end-stage COPD.

In a single lung transplant, the surgeon makes an incision on your side, about six inches below your underarm. A horizontal incision across the lower chest is made for a double lung transplant. You will be put on a ventilator and a heart-lung machine. The heart-lung machine takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during the operation. A small section of rib is permanently removed to allow access to your lung. The old lung is cut away from the main blood vessel and bronchus. The new lung is then inserted. The blood vessels and bronchus are attached to the new lung. You will probably remain on medications indefinitely to prevent rejection of your transplanted organs.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

What you can do about a lung disease called COPD. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease website. Available at:
http://www.goldcopd.org/uploads/users/files/GOLD%5FPatient%5FRevJan10.pdf. Accessed February 24, 2014.